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Saturday, August 20, 2016

[M+BIGBANG 10th Anniversary ①] From dreaming trainees to the role model for other idol groups

Boys whose sole goal was debut have now grown into musicians who lead K-pop.

On August 19, BIGBANG celebrates the 10thanniversary of their debut. Ten years ago, YG Entertainment (“YG”) selected the members of new idol group BIGBANG through survival audition show Mnet “Real-docu BIGBANG”. Such format of TV shows is common these days, but back then, there was no TV show that revealed the whole process of production of an idol group. BIGBANG drew big attention as the first idol boy group of YG and the TV show recorded more than million views.

“Real-docu BIGBANG” left a big impression to the public as the first-ever survival audition show and it also became an unforgettable memory for BIGBANG members. In a press meeting of “A to Z” exhibition held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of BIGBANG’s debut, G-DRAGON said, “The best thing I’ve ever done in my life was my refusal to go home when Mr. YANG told me to go home. Another was when SEUNGRI explained the reason why he had to join BIGBANG”, making viewers burst into laughter.

BIGBANG who had a sole purpose of debut back then has now become the role model for Korean idol groups, and they have established themselves as the center of K-pop, being recognized globally. In Korea’s music scene, BIGBANG has always at the center of interest.

First, BIGBANG suggested a new direction for idol groups that had been planned in a strict framework of music labels. Starting from G-DRAGON, BIGBANG members wrote their own songs for albums from the very debut, setting a good model for idol producers. The reason why many idol singers now are boasting their capabilities as producers such as in the case of Block-B’s ZICO, Jinyoung of B1A4, Jung Yong-hwa of CNBLUE, BTS, and Woozi of Seventeen is all attributable to BIGBANG’s trial.

BIGBANG also showed the fact that even for a team, each member’s capabilities are important. Exceptionally for an idol group, all the members of BIGBANG released solo albums and those solo albums showed new music totally different from team BIGBANG’s music. TAEYANG presented R&B that best-suits his voice, and T.O.P presented more powerful and intense rap as a solo artist. DAESUNG tried trot, the genre of adult pop with a little color of Korean traditional music, which was a very rare case for an idol singer. G-DRAGON presented more experimental music in his solo albums.

BIGBANG also proved the fact that an idol group can be split into different unit teams, not just into individual solo artists. GD&T.O.P unit team of rappers and the unit team of GD&TAEYANG who are also closest friends, have created bigger sensation.

BIGBANG went beyond the music scene and has become the icon of fashion, leading trends. BIGBANG members are not typical handsome guys, but they have unique style and sense of fashion and they have always tried new styles. The items that BIGBANG wore for “LIES” released in 2007 including high-top sneakers, bandanas, and caps created sensation as “it” fashion items. Ever since then, BIGBANG has always presented experimental styles. Notably, G-DRAGON emerged as a fashionista, being recognized as a celebrity not only in Korea but also globally. World-famous luxury brand Louis Vuitton invested in YG, which well-demonstrates BIGBANG’s enormous potential in the fashion world.

BIGBANG is now the icon that represents Korea. BIGBANG has recently been appointed as the PR ambassador for Korea’s new national brand “CREATIVE KOREA”. BIGBANG will work as the PR ambassador from the 2016 Rio Olympics until the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Most of all, it is hard to find any other idol groups than SHINHWA and BIGBANG who have maintained the team for more than 10 years. Plus, BIGBANG has worked with the same company for those 10 years. There have been some scandals for the 10 years including suspicion that G-DRAGON smoked weed and car accidents of DAESUNG and SEUNGRI, but still, BIGBANG maintained the team and stayed in the top place. That shows how exceptionally meaningful BIGBANG is in Korea’s music scene.